The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-01-27
HER BOATMAN.

HER BOATMAN.
1t was moonlight night. The river,
tlark and sullen. moved in its rocky bed
like some gigantic serpent half over
eomesby the lethargy of sleep
Here and there the moonbeams fell
upon the surface of the water. great
spots OF silvery whiteness, amidst the
dark shadows cast BY the heavy foliage
OF the cedar shrubbery which grew be-
tween the almost perpendicular rocks of
the high banks. w -.
Fifty feet above the surface of the
water they reared themselves. and at
one point they jutted forward as if to
salute each other, while the river be-
meath them deepened and narrowed.
y At this point a bridge had once been
thrown across-a bridge which had be-
some n cemn)ete ruin. one timber alone
remaining t6mark the spot. one long
and narrow beam--it could not have
been more. than six inches IN width :
still maintaine1its place. and in mute
language Informed Tho stranger that
once there had been connection be-
tween Rocky Hill and the mountains
sDn the other side.As
I Upon the surface of the river there
was i small rowboat, containing slen-
der. crouching form wrapped in dark
cloak.
From the top of the bank upon either
side this rowb boat would have been m
visible, but it was there, making its
way mp and down past the rocky butt
ress which upheld the beam. always
avoiding the moonlit spots upon the
r.ver. ~s - 49,
The sounds of carousal were usurp-
ing the place Of the quiet of the night,
The drunken jest and the course laugh
Ter breaking in upon the sentimental
notes of "Home, Sweet Home" sung,
you would have averred, by some lone
Nv youth who was far from the scenes
Of his Loyhood-came plainly to the
cars of this silent watcher upon the riv-
or. who, it seemed, could not tear her.
self away from the sounds which came
from the saloon upon the rivers bank.
Once only did the moonbeams fall
upon her fair, upturned face.
It was. the face Of woman who
should meyer have been in that wild,
lonely spot. listening for the sound of
a yo &C that hal grown to address her
with refined words which were the
cruelist of the cruel, waiting there up
on that lonely river, for she knew not
what.
Muriel Warner was the daughter of
wealthy parents. She had married,
when very Young. a man whom she
had worshipped as the embodiment of
manly worth and the perfection OF
manly beauty. Friends and relatives
had crowded about her with epvious
congratulations and for tine her
life was perfect happiness.
But a change had come. Fred War
her was not what he had seemed. On
" few short weeks of happiness. and
the handsome husband plunged into
the widest dissipation. Friends re-
NAMED to her as long as the money re-
NAMED. and then they began to hint
that perhaps Muriel was not altogether
blameless.
This was something which the spir-
tied wife could not stand. She broke
with relatives and friends. and chung to
the ydissipated man who was her hus.
| band. From one city to another he had
dragged her with hiIa. aad POW he had
deserted her and she had followed him.
His was the cultured voice. which
warbled of .'H0He, Sweet Home. -
while his wife was q PAINLESS. half
crazed creature. out uroq the river.
And she was penniless, for, regard
less of food or shelter, she had paid
out her last cent for the use Of the
boat which brought her, unseen, YET
! nearer to him.
A quick, sharp report broke in up
on the mellow voice of the singer.
It was repeated again and again.
It was the report of q revolver.
Meriel could hear the exeifed shouts,
the heavy trampling OF feet, the bang
ing of a door, and then the weird cry,
Han paraaysJd. 4she frightened wo.
man restad upon her oars just under
the beam which bad once belonged te
the old bridge. :.
Thee sound of heavy feet, rapidl,
tappr0aehing, came from che banl
close at Hand. and then a dark form
rushed out between her and the moon
lit sky above her.
It was a mans figure, and he was 4t'
tempting to Gross the river upon thu
narrow beam,
Excited shouts and the tramp o
hurried feet followed him to tbs river
brink.
Stop shouted voice. II arres
you for murder"
No reply came from the escaping
figure. which sped nimbly along it
narrow way.
!, A sharp ei,oFxs of revolvers follow
ed; shot after shot was fired. and thel
/ the dark figure wavered, the band
grasped wildly at the air, and thel
there was fall.
r The water deluged Muriel with {
shower Of Drops as the body enteret
the water, Shouts end the exultant re
Itreatjnx voices held her attention unit
she felt something creeping iato the R9a
| behind her.
She turned and uttered faip
shrek.
A man, and more than likely tn
murderer. had taken possession OF he
little craft
Give me the 0ars." said stern
musical voice.
You are not wounded, then" sh'
sid, shrinking away from the dripping
fguxA. II
II am ast wounded" returned TIN
Voice, and then silently the boat wa
rowed into the deepest shadows Rpd vi
ti56 stream
J Moment tfter, uso,neat erept BY